Plan a 3-Day Escape to Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is an ever-expanding city set on the Alberta prairie. Once known for cowboy culture and the Calgary Stampede, the city is pushing past that singular identity to become an urban mecca for arts, culture and cuisine, with new restaurants and breweries opening up all the time.

Here’s how to spend a weekend in Calgary before traveling onward to Banff National Park.

As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.

Friday: Explore Downtown Calgary

After a hearty breakfast at the Shoe & Canoe Public House at the Delta Calgary Downtown — a classic fried egg sandwich, maybe, or decadent brioche French toast — begin your downtown exploration with a panoramic view of the city from the top of Calgary Tower.

Get your shopping done early by wandering the lively pedestrian mall at Stephen Avenue Walk, where on busy days you’ll see travelers, locals and buskers. Be sure to take in the varied architecture (both vintage and modern), seasonal landscaping and, sometimes, pop-up shops and eateries.

While you’re there, grab a midmorning coffee at Phil & Sebastian or sit down for a full lunch at Saltlik, a modern steakhouse known for one dish in particular featuring mashed potatoes topped with tarragon-butter-poached lobster.

In the afternoon, explore Calgary’s arts and cultural scene in the East Village. First, take a peek into the innovative Central Library. Its design was inspired by Alberta’s bow-shaped Chinook arch cloud formations, and it’s decorated with artwork from Indigenous artists.

Learn about Canada’s musical history at Studio Bell, at the National Music Centre, which hosts interactive exhibits as well as concerts in the 300-seat performance hall.

Finally, dig in to an Albertan steak at downtown’s Modern Steak, which serves ranch-specific beef in a stunningly modern space with a 40-foot atrium. One18 Empire, also downtown, plates up locally sourced steaks and has an extremely well-stocked whiskey bar as well. If you’re an herbivore, try Koi for its curries, noodle bowls and vegan (and gluten-free) dishes.

Finish off your evening in style with a cocktail at Proof YYC, where the bartenders make serious business of mixing up drinks. Cold outside? Order a hot “Brass Tacks,” with Irish whiskey, coffee liqueur, amaro, sherry and whipped cream. Or beat the heat with a “Bisquotec,” mixed with gin, aquavit, tomato water, basil oil and Cocchi Americano.

Saturday: Brewery Hop at the RiverWalk

For a quick but delicious breakfast, try the Alforno Bakery & Café. This fast-casual spot is a 10-minute walk from The Westin Calgary and serves a variety of sweet pastries, savory egg dishes and sandwiches.

Calgary is home to an extensive car-free urban recreation network, making it easy to hike or cycle around (you can rent an electric bike at Pedego Calgary). One of the most scenic routes is along the Bow River traveling from the Peace Bridge, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, through Eau Claire Park and along the RiverWalk toward Inglewood.

After working up an appetite, pop into Deane House for lunch, set in a retrofitted, circa-1906 home.

The Calgary craft beer scene has been booming since 2013, when the province dropped its minimum production levels, and more than 40 breweries are now found throughout the city. Cross the Elbow River from downtown into Inglewood to grab a pint at Cold Garden Beverage Company, housed in an industrial-chic space.

While in Inglewood, wander the streets, which are lined with cool, independent boutiques, including ultra-chic stationery supply store Recess, luxe children’s apparel shop State Baby and eclectic consignment store Peacock Boutique.

Spend your evening dining and drinking at the Simmons Building, the former mattress factory warehouse that was transformed into a multi-restaurant culinary destination. Charbar serves fresh, sustainable and local cuisine, with seating spread over two floors and a patio overlooking the city skyline and the Bow River.

After you eat, head to the Rooftop Bar @ Simmons to drink in more skyline vistas, along with a nightcap.

Sunday: Take a Food Tour

Turn mealtime into a culinary experience by signing up for Alberta Food Tours’ Sunday Brunch & a Calgary Farmers’ Market Tour. Led by cookbook author Karen Anderson, the tour hops between bakeries, coffee shops and market merchants, revealing the secret spots that define the city’s food scene.

In the afternoon, channel your inner athlete at WinSport, a park where you can snow-tube in the winter and fly through the air on a zip line in warmer weather. Or learn about the 1988 Winter Games by visiting Olympic Plaza, the site of the medal ceremonies, where a reflecting pond becomes a skating rink in the winter.

Spend your final evening in Calgary’s Beltline neighborhood. On a cold day, warm up with vegan comfort food at Vegan Street or visit the local favorite Donna Mac. For an elevated dining experience, breezy bistro Ten Foot Henry and the modern, woodsy Bridgette Bar have won culinary awards, both appearing on Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list in 2020.

At Ten Foot Henry, the cold-smoked beets are a menu highlight, and the legendary butterscotch pudding is a must; at Bridgette Bar, you can’t go wrong with pasta dishes like ricotta dumplings and truffle-blanketed mushroom rigatoni. In warmer weather, try Park by Sidewalk Citizen, which has one of the best patios in town, and serves up locally sourced food.